[Surgery of cholesteatoma of the ear canal]

Aseptic necrosis and cholesteatoma of the external auditory canal can be stages of the same pathological entity. The majority of these patients suffered from symptoms similar to those of external otitis. It is suggested that minor mechanical trauma, e.g. cotton lip swabs, plays a role in the pathogenesis of external ear canal cholesteatoma. During the last 10 years we have been surgically treating 22 patients with diagnosis of aseptic necrosis and cholesteatoma of the bony external auditory canal. All 22 patients registered significant postoperative improvement.